The Michigan Panthers were eliminated from the UFL playoffs with the loss to the Birmingham Stallions

VaselineJune 9, 2024

0 3 minutes read

The Michigan Panthers were eliminated from the UFL playoffs with the loss to the Birmingham Stallions

Kameron Goodwill
| Special to The Detroit News

It felt like déjà vu, but it stung worse in every way.

Just like last week’s regular season finale, the Michigan Panthers let another first-half lead go and fell to the Birmingham Stallions, 31-18, in Saturday’s USFL Conference Championship game at Alabama’s Protective Stadium.

The Panthers (7-4) scored on each of their first five offensive possessions, with kicker Jake Bates going 4-4 on field goals to build an 18-3 lead in the first half. But the Panthers never scored again, allowing 28 unanswered points to the Stallions.

Danny Etling made his third straight start at quarterback and on the first drive, which was set up by a 37-yard kickoff return from Devin Ross, connected with Siaosi Mariner on a short pass for a touchdown 35 yards as the Panthers took an early 6-0 lead.

On Birmingham’s ensuing possession, Ricky Pearson Jr. was stopped short of a first down by linebacker Noah Dawkins on fourth-and-1 as the Panthers took over at the Bears’ 42-yard line. The Panthers didn’t get a first down, but got close enough for Bates to boot a 53-yard field goal to make it 9-0.

The Stallions appeared to come out undisciplined as they racked up four penalties for 45 yards in the first quarter alone, with just one first down on their first two drives. Another Birmingham field goal would lead to another Bates field goal as the Panthers extended their lead to 12-0 by the end of the first quarter.

Birmingham’s Adrian Martinez caught a big 38-yard reception from star tight end Jake Sternberger that put the defending USFL champions at the Panthers’ 2. Keith Gibson Jr. made a great stop on third-and-goal , which forced the Stallions to settle for a field goal.

After another Bates field goal, Dawkins forced a fumble on Martinez’s sack, with the Panthers recovering the ball for the first possession of the game. However, the Panthers could only muster another field goal for an 18-3 lead.

After the Panthers’ punt went out of bounds to put the Stallions at the 50, Martinez found Jordan Thomas deep up the middle on the first play for a touchdown, cutting the deficit to 18-9.

The Panthers got into Bates’ range again late in the first half, but he missed a 51-yard attempt down the left. The Stallions took advantage of field position and Chris Blewitt made a 43-yard field goal to cut the Panthers’ lead to 18-12 at halftime.

The Stallions got the ball to start the second half, but after a big 39-yard return from Deon Cain into Panthers territory, Martinez was picked off by Panthers cornerback Adonis Alexander at the 1-yard line.

The Panthers faked a fourth down when Kai Nacua threw to Kedrick Whitehead Jr. for a first down, but Etling fumbled while being sacked on the next play and the Stallions recovered.

It was a turnover prone quarter as Martinez punted the ball back to the Panthers. After both teams traded punts, Etling threw an interception on his first play of the drive to Ike Brown.

Matt Corral replaced Martinez at quarterback for Armasari, but the fumbles kept coming as Corral overthrew his target and the ball ended up in the hands of Javin White. But the sixth turnover of the quarter would be the biggest, as Etling threw it straight to Daniel Isom, who took it 48 yards for a pick-six.

With the game tied at 18 and one quarter remaining, Corral stayed under center and led a five-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a 7-yard touchdown pass to Amani Rodgers to give the Patriots their first lead of the day.

After failing to convert on third down, Bates broke out for a 44-yard attempt that was blocked by two Stallions. Down 24-18 with 9:43 left, the Panthers needed a stop from their defense.

But they couldn’t get it, as Corral drove in another touchdown to make it 31-18, putting the exclamation point on another Armasari comeback and the end of the Panthers’ season.

Kameron Goodwill is a freelance writer.

VaselineJune 9, 2024

0 3 minutes read

Vaseline

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